About 75,000 people attend the "star parties" at the observatory, which is managed by the University of Texas, throughout the year and take in the region's famously dark skies.

About 75,000 people attend the "star parties" at the observatory, which is managed by the University of Texas, throughout the year and take in the region's famously dark skies.

Stephen Hummel, the dark skies coordinator at McDonald Observatory, says that, on average, people can see about 10% fewer stars than the year before.

DAVIS MOUNTAINS STATE PARK, Texas — It's a packed night at McDonald Observatory, where dozens of people are crowding around high-powered telescopes as a thunderstorm rolls off to the east. Locals and ...

Recent research shows the night sky in North America is getting brighter every year. Stephen Hummel, the dark skies coordinator at McDonald Observatory, says that, on average, people can see about 10% ...